Skip to main content

Review of Buckets by University of Northampton BA Actors at Royal & Derngate (Royal), Northampton

The second of the two University of Northampton shows performed in the Royal for 2022 by the BA Actors was Buckets by Adam Barnard, and it was a much more entertaining, cleaner and better-performed show than The Gut Girls the day before.

Erin Jones
Barnard’s Buckets takes the form of thirty-three interconnected scenes revolving around the loose link of “buckets” be they sick buckets, bucket lists or a bit of charity bucket shaking, the scenes weave and meander with occasionally recurring characters and situations. It is very similar to other plays performed by the BA Actors of the past, including perhaps most obviously Love + Information, and as with such a format, it is also perfect for the University actors to perform.

Sam Day
It is a delightfully delivered play, with strong performances and characterisation across the board from all the performers. I particular liked Erin Jones’ loving mother, tasked with dealing with the eventual death of her daughter, and it was great to have this poignant character crossover into the much more comedic “Kiss Me” sequences, which saw Sam Day’s character in constant attempts to get ladies to kiss him. Hugely entertaining. Owain Hedd in several scenes makes a great impact, showing the best quality in comedy situations and he also has a distinctive look which might take him far.

Carly May
The contrast in scenes was excellent, weaving from full comedy to sadness and each of the scenes was really well balanced lengthwise, never outstaying their welcome. One particular scene towards the end was immensely powerful as Carly May’s character filmed on her phone on a train platform what was likely to be her final moments, were it not for the arrival Neyha Solanki as a would-be thief. While there was a huge power in the poignancy of this scene, writer Barnard also adds much subtle humour and May and Solanki are excellent in it.

Carly May
The play takes place on a set of playground equipment and a park bench and the simple set offers its pros and cons, slightly irritating is the constant head ducking under the slide for the performers, particularly for the ever-present observer and scene changer Crystal Liu. It might seem churlish to comment on this, but it interferes with the swift scene changing, and I felt, a better position of the set might have lessened this impact. The set does however provide several perfect backdrops for each of the short scenes.

However, whatever criticism is placed on Buckets, it is minor, as this is very much the BA Actors of Northampton, doing what they do best, nice stage presence, confident performances and the effective telling of a clever and very entertaining play. Excellent stuff.

Entertaining and well performed, this is every bit the BA Actors at their best.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Performance reviewed: Friday 13th May 2022 at the Royal & Derngate (Royal), Northampton.
Buckets ran at Royal & Derngate until Saturday 14th May 2022.

Buckets was presented by final year actors at the University of Northampton

Popular posts from this blog

Review of Elf the Musical (N.M.T.C.) at Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton

Christmas has come early this year thanks to the Northampton Musical Theatre Company and their annual performance at Royal & Derngate; this year, they bring Elf the Musical to the stage. First staged in 2010, this musical version of the 2003 Will Ferrell comedy features music by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin and is based on the book by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan, from David Berenbaum's original screenplay. Elf tells the tale of Buddy, a human raised by Santa's elves, who eventually learns that his origins are less North Pole and more the skyscraper streets of New York City. So, for Buddy, it’s time to travel to the Big Apple and finally meet his biological father. Matt Clarke's lead performance in Elf is strong. Clarke brings Buddy to life with all the childish manners and silly behaviour that make the character an endearing lead. He also has the vocal ability and movement to match, and he effortlessly entertains, especially the young kids, with his zany antics. Han...
Read more

Review of Matilda at Milton Keynes Theatre

Roald Dahl is perhaps one of the most famous children’s authors of any generation, and his work has inspired an exceptional number of film, television, and theatre adaptations. Fifteen years ago, this musical of Matilda , one of his most fondly remembered stories, took to the stage and has not looked back since. Adapted from the original book by Dennis Kelly, with lyrics and music by Tim Minchin, the show has been a fixture at the Cambridge Theatre in London since 2011, has performed on Broadway, and is now reaching Milton Keynes Theatre as part of its second UK and Ireland Tour. Inspired by the Roald Dahl book of the same name, this Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi-award-winning musical tells the story of an extraordinary little girl with a vivid imagination and the courage to change her own destiny. Matilda is of course the centre of attention in this production, and on this extensive tour, the role is shared by Felicity Brown, Petra Hutchings, Mollie Hutton, and Caroline Ravansari ...
Read more

Review of Annie at Milton Keynes Theatre

Annie was first performed now a remarkable fifty years ago at Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, and since then, the tale based on a 1920s comic strip and adapted for the stage by Thomas Meehan on book, with music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics provided by Martin Charnin, has become a perennial favourite across the world. Indeed, this version, directed by Nikolai Foster, last appeared at Milton Keynes Theatre in 2023. So, after all these years, does Annie still have that appeal? Set in  1930s New York during the Great Depression,  Annie  follows the life of an orphan abandoned to the care  of its evil matron, Miss Hannigan. Annie seeks escape, and after one failed attempt, she finds herself the chosen Christmas guest of billionaire Oliver Warbucks, and things slowly, hopefully begin to improve for the little but fiercely strong Annie. Leading the adult cast for this tour now as the cruel Miss Hannigan is Claire Sweeney. Sweeney clearly revels in the chance to embr...
Read more